Senate panel authorizes money for Mars mission, shuttle replacement

_Tombstone_

They're finally trying to get this through incase whichever one of them jokers going for next president stops it like obama did.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/21/senate-panel-authorizes-money-mars-mission-shuttle-replacement/90793160/

The bill does not order NASA to scrap its controversial plan to send astronauts to an asteroid and collect samples by 2021. But it would require the agency to routinely report to Congress on the mission’s progress and justify why it's worth the $1.4 billion price tag.

Beyond money, the measure would:

• Direct NASA to continue working on the Space Launch System and Orion multi-purpose vehicle that are the linchpins of a planned mission to send astronauts to Mars by the 2030s. The bill includes specific milestones for an uncrewed exploration mission by 2018 and a crewed exploration mission by 2021.

• Require development of an advanced space suit to protect astronauts on a Mars mission.

• Continue development of the Commercial Crew Program designed to send astronauts to the space station — no later than 2018 — on private rockets launched from U.S. soil.

• Expand the full use and life of the space station through 2024 while laying the foundation for use through 2028.

• Allow greater opportunities for aerospace companies to conduct business in Low Earth Orbit.

• Improve monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of the medical effects astronauts experience from spending time in deep space.

Capt'n Midnight

Roll out the pork barrels \o/